The Express Entry PR guide

Express Entry is the online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to select skilled workers for permanent residence through three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates create a profile, receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and compete in periodic rounds of invitations — also called draws — where IRCC invites the highest-ranked candidates to apply. Most complete applications are processed within six months.

This guide hub walks through the full journey — from checking your eligibility and building your profile, to receiving an Invitation to Apply, submitting your application, and landing as a permanent resident. The stream guides explain the three Express Entry programs and the occupational categories IRCC uses when running category-based draws. The glossary decodes the abbreviations (ITA, AOR, CRS, PPR, COPR) that appear throughout your application portal and in community discussions.

The timelines on this tracker come from real applicants who have shared their milestone dates with the community. Use them alongside the official guides here to get an honest picture of what the wait actually looks like at each stage.